Berchmans Academy head football coach Mark Aune figures if there is any favorable time to play John Paul the Great Academy, why not now?

The Saints have had an extra week to prepare, and Berchmans has a number of injured players healthy for what Aune thinks is the biggest game in the program’s history.

Fourth-seeded Berchmans travels to Lafayette’s Clark Field on Friday at 7 p.m. for a meeting with No. 1 John Paul the Great in the semifinal round of the Associated Christian Educators League eight-man playoff format.

Berchmans (6-2) finished tied for second during the regular season with Assembly Christian of New Iberia and Northeast Baptist of Monroe. JPG, the league’s defending 2015 champion, is undefeated after eight games.

The three teams have the same record and during the regular season, they defeated one another. The Saints were seeded fourth after league officials determined their placement following a series of tie-breakers.

Aune admits defending the Guardians is a difficult assignment, but in order to reign as the ACEL champion, the Saints at some point have to defeat JPG, which has allowed only 23 points this season.

“Having the bye week allowed us to get everyone healthy and also to work on some things that we are going to need to do in order to contain JPG. Playing them in the first game of the playoffs really doesn’t matter, because at some point you know that (JPG) is the team that you eventually are going to have to defeat,” Aune said.

The Guardians defeated Berchmans 40-18 in the opening game of the season. Aune said at that time his team was at a disadvantage since the Saints had experienced only six practices.

Berchmans is also seeking a first playoff win. The Saints were seeded third last year but lost in the first round to Southwest. Aune said the Saints had five starters missing from that game due to injuries.

JPG averages nearly 45 points a game. In two contests, the Guardians have scored 61 and 72 points.

The Guardians, Aune said, operate from a veer formation, which can be effective if defenses are not aware of assignments.

“Undoubtedly, the key to stopping the veer is stopping the dive play. That’s what you will see them (JPG) lead with 80 percent of the time. The rest of what they do, the option and the pass are related to the dive. If you can stop the dive then you can stop them,” said Aune.

Offensively the Saints have also displayed some weaponry. Jackson Russo took over at quarterback during the second week of the season after an injury to Mack Gallagher in season opener.

That decision moved Gallagher to move to a receiver and allowed Cam Muller to work more in the backfield. Muller has obtained over 1,000 rushing yards since then and scored 18 touchdowns.

Muller has been paired with Max Broussard, whose tough running style is a favorable complement to Muller. Berchmans has also added Adam Bobbs to the backfield rotation.

In addition to Gallagher, the Saints have Patrick Gandy and tight end David Boulet as part of the passing game. Luke Menard is the center, while the guards are Michael Moreau, Shallon Breaux and Addison Stoute.

Defensively, the Saints are expected to start Micah Manzanares at nose guard. Playing linebacker are Luke Menard and Broussard. Boulet plays the middle linebacker position.

Playing the safeties are Muller and Gallagher, and the cornerback are Bobbs and Brett Garcelon.